real. It’s just that...” He exhales. “The necklace is worth quite a bit more than I told you. I wanted to pay off your father’s mortgage, and I figured if the price tag for the necklace happened to be the same amount as what he owed, you’d think it was fate and let me ‘return it,’ so you could use the proceeds to pay off the loan.”
I’m slack-jawed. “Our entire conversation about the necklace was—”
“A set-up. Yes. I knew what you’d say and do, so I arranged a situation that would lead to you saying and doing all of it, so you’d let me pay off the loan, without you being stubborn and contrary.”
“And you think I’m the Bobby Fischer in this relationship?”
“Takes one to know one, baby. Don’t bother asking me the actual value of the necklace. I think the monetary value of gifts should be exempt from our new ‘open book’ policy, don’t you? But if we’re truly going to tell each other the truth about ‘everything,’ other than the value of gifts, then I guess I should come clean about the necklace being part of my clever strategy to save your dad’s condo from foreclosure.”
I kiss him enthusiastically. “Thank you. You’re the sweetest, most generous, most adorable man in the world.”
“Only for you. Honestly, I was initially planning to buy something worth exactly eighty grand, so I could return it, and use the proceeds, just like I said. But then, I saw the ruby necklace on display on the other side of the store, and, the minute I saw it, I knew it had to be yours, no matter the price.”
I gasp. “You didn’t walk past Tiffany’s and see the necklace in the store window?”
He snorts. “No. My meeting was in Century City. Not Beverly Hills.”
I laugh uproariously, and so does he.
“I’m so relieved,” I admit. “When you said you didn’t think complete honesty was realistic, I thought you were going to drop a bombshell on me.”
“Nah. I’ve got no more bombshells to drop, sweetheart. I’m done with those.”
“So am I.” I kiss him again, feeling like my soul is soaring around the small dressing room. “So, it’s a deal. No more lies, from either of us. Ever again. Unless it’s about the price tag of a gift or, you know, like about a surprise party or something like that. But that’s it.”
Reed pauses underneath me, and I know he’s thinking, Shit.
“What now?” I say. I pull out of our embrace and look at him sternly. “Whatever it is, spit it out, dude. Let’s get it all out in the open.”
Reed flaps his lips together. “It pertains to a gift, so I feel like it could very well be exempt.”
“Except you know that’s not true, or else you wouldn’t look guilty as sin right now.”
He grunts.
“Tell me.” I pinch his face between my finger and thumb, making his lips part. “The truth shall set you free. Speak.”
Reed exhales and I release his face.
“The ‘rental car’ I got you for the summer?”
I gasp. “No. Reed.”
He winks. “Happy birthday, baby. It’s all yours.”
Chapter 22
Reed
“Feel free to go to a diner or something,” I say to my usual New York driver, Tony, as he parks the sedan in front of my mother’s facility. “I’ll text you when we’re about fifteen minutes out.”
“You got it, Mr. Rivers.”
I look at Georgina sitting next to me in the back seat. Never in a million years did I think I’d bring a girlfriend to meet my mother. How did Georgina convince me to do this?
“This is going to be great,” she says, reading my mind. “You’ve briefed me for three days, love. I know what to expect.”
She’s right. Over the past three days, as Georgina and I have painted Manhattan red, visiting all the usual tourist spots, watching Broadway shows, and eating at fabulous restaurants, she’s slowly, but surely, peeled every layer of my onion, all the way down to the nub. Down to my deepest core. To my darkest secrets and sources of shame and embarrassment and pain and insecurity. And to my surprise, with each new layer uncovered, I’ve found myself feeling more comfortable and in love with Georgina. Not less. And, slowly, I’ve felt that lifelong elephant, who lives on my chest, getting up and wandering off into parts unknown.
“Did you tell your mother I was coming today?” Georgina asks.
“No. I didn’t want to answer any questions in advance. So, don’t take it personally when she stares at you, mouth agape,